Student Voices

Art Enhances Medicine

by Clare McLean

In this photo essay, students at the School of Medicine scrutinize art â€” all in order become better doctors. Their elective course, â€śVisual Thinking: How to Observe in Depth,â€ť is designed to expand observational and critical-thinking skills.

"It's about making observations," explains co-instructor Tamara Moats, adjunct faculty in art history at the UW Museology Program. "It's irrelevant that they're looking at art — what they're gaining is the ability to really look at something, and that is a skill that is perfectly adaptable to medical diagnosis."

"It's about making observations," explains co-instructor Tamara Moats, adjunct faculty in art history at the UW Museology Program. "It's irrelevant that they're looking at art — what they're gaining is the ability to really look at something, and that is a skill that is perfectly adaptable to medical diagnosis."

Colored pencils fly out of the box for a drawing assignment at the Frye Art Museum on Seattle's First Hill. "Leonardo [da Vinci] knew the value of drawing, and basically invented scientific illustration for this purpose during the Renaissance," says Moats.

On view: â€śRichard Misrach: On the Beach,â€ť at the Henry Art Gallery; the Charles and Emma Frye Collection at the Frye Art Museum